GTW Car Ferrys 1920-1978

These photos were taken by my dad in the 1920's and by me in 1978. There were four railroads that ran car ferries. The Detroit & Mackinaw which operated the last and oldest hand fired coal burning steam ship, the bow loader Chief Wawatam between Mackinaw City & St Ignus in the upper peninsula. The Pere Marquette(Peer Mar ket), C&O and Chessie System. The C&O Started with the Flint & Pere Marquette which built wooden car ferries. The C&O Ships sailed from Ludington Mich to the Wisconsin Cities of Milwaukee, Mantouwoc & Kewaunee. These ships were PM41 City of Midland, Spartan and the Badger. They carried railcars, automobiles and passengers. The passenger accommodations featured state rooms designed by Pullman Standard and folded down from the ceiling like a railroad sleeper. The C&O also had PM17, PM21 & PM18 stored at Ludington.

Next was the Ann Arbor who sailed from Alberta/Frankfort Mich to Keuwaunee Wis and Manistique in the upper peninsula.

Last the Grand Truck Western. They sailed originally out of Grand Haven to Milwaukee. In 1933 the GTW moved their marine operations to Muskegon gaining access over the Pennsylvania. They ran three ferries. The Madison, Grand Rapids and the City of Milwaukee bought surplus from the Ann Arbor to replace the Milwaukee which sank in a fierce gale off Racine Wis in 1923. These ships had reinforced bows for breaking ice and were made to expedite freight bypassing the Chicago Bottle neck which could cause delays of days just to leave Chicago! Increase in freight car capacity, stream lining of Chicago Rail operations, and Highway competition spelled doom for the Great Lakes Ferries. Today only the Coal fired Badger from Ludington to Milwaukee remains to carry autos, trucks and Passengers. The GTW City of Milwaukee is permanently docked in Manistee Mich off US31 as a museum. The City of Midland PM41 was cut down to a barge and sails today under the name of PERE MARQUETTE 41.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Trains
• Great Lakes Ships
• Carferrys.

[kreriver]

As Charlie Chan would say, "Correction please." The Milwaukee sank in a fierce storm in 1929, 10 miles or so east of Fox Point, Wis.

[strobx1]

@kreriver Thanks. This is an example of what happens when find the correct info after you post the video= too late. I didn't want to redo the video with MSmovie maker because it takes me 30 minutes to make & edit.

[strobx1]

@kreriver It is true the Milwaukee sank in a gale in 1929. But the GTW needed a replacement for the Milwaukee. The GTW bought a extra carferry off the Ann Arbor & renamed it the "City of Milwaukee". The City of Milwaukee is docked at Manistee Mich 40 miles North of Ludington as a museum open for tours.

[jmcdowell0116]

A few more updates. The City of Milwaukee was purchased by the State of Michigan for the Ann Arbor. The Badger serves Manitowoc, not Kewaunee. The City of Milwaukee hosts a "Ghost Ship" over several nights in October, not just on Halloween. I have a few more items I'll add when I check out some info.

[jmcdowell0116]

Nice pictures. In the interest of accuracy, I present some corrected information.

The City of Milwaukee was not purchased from the Ann Arbor. I was a new ferry built by Manitowoc shipbuilding to replace Milwaukee. One of six nearly identical ships built in the'20s.

The Ann Arbor served Manitowoc, Kewaunee, and Menominee, Wi. and Manistique, MI. from Elberta (not Alberta) on the south shore or Betsie Lake. Only the Spartan, Badger, City of Midland, PM 21 & 22 had unaflows. 4 or 5 cylinders

[flightsimtim]

Too bad some of the ships were turned into barges. I'm glad the City of Milwaukee is still around. I used to watch those ships in Muskegon Lake all the time as a boy. I've ridden the City of Midland (once) and Badger (many times).

[Eyehategod213gr]

Amazing photos! Thanx for sharing!